Date and day correcting device of a calendar timepiece



Oct. 7, 1969 Tsunsvosv-u ONO ETAL 3,470,687

DATE AND DAY CORRECTING DEVICE OF A CALENDAR TIMEP IECE Filed Nov. 30,1967 7 Sheets-Sheet l 2 9 1 J Iii l I ,7/ 1 In @I Ci u f5 O M 8 7 /6 lnlv /0 HWHIEJI I x /8 1H] i :H a M ()lml I.) ,7

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DATE ANDv DAY CORRECTING DEVICE OF A CALENDAR TIMEPIECE Filed Nov 30,1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 7, 1969 TSUNEYOSHI ONO mm. 3,47

DATE AND DAY CORRECTING DEVICE OF A CALENDAR TIMEPIECE Filed NOV. 30,1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 7, 1969 TSUNEYOSHI ONO ETAL 3,470,687

DATE AND DAY CORRECTING DEVICE OF A CALENDAR TIMEPIECE Filed Nov. 30,1967 7 Sheets-Sheet s Oct. 7, 1969 TSUNEYOSHI ONO ETAL 3,470,687

DATE AND DAY CORRECTING DEVICE OF A CALENDAR TIMEPIECE Filed NOV. 30,1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct. 7, 1969 TSUNEYOSHI ONO EIAL 3,470,687

DATE AND DAY CORRECTING DEVICE OF A CALENDAR TIMEPIECE Filed NOV. 30,1967 7 Sheets-Sheet '1 F I G. 8

4 q, I 'T)\\\\\:/\, I! 44 47 M xii" 46 I )--55 50 45 .7 Q in A??? 5/ m h[ll 53 59 b J 'I I O il 49 HMOI HH! United States Patent 3,470,687 DATEAND DAY CORRECTING DEVICE OF A CALENDAR TIMEPIECE Tsuneyoshi Ono,Suwa-shi, Noriyuki Kamijo, Tatsunomachi, Nagano-ken, and ChihiroOotsuki, Suwa-shi, Japan, assiguors to Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa SeikoshaFiled Nov. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 686,936 Claims priority, applicationJapan, Dec. 15, 1966, 41/ 114,064, 41/ 114,066, 41/114,068 Int. Cl. G04b19/24 U.S. C]. 58-58 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background ofthe invention The present invention relates to a date and day correctingdevice of a calendar timepiece, more particularly to a calendar watch inwhich date and day can be corrected instantaneously by turning thewinding stem fitted with the crown.

Watches with date and day indication have recently become popular andvarious calendar watches are overflowed in the market. In a calendarwatch date and day should be corrected whenever the watch stops running,as when the user fails to wind the watch or after repair. Various daycorrecting devices have been developed wherein the day indication isadvanced by turning the hands by means of the crown, the day indicationis corrected by pushing in and pulling out of the crown, or anadditional button for day correction is provided. In most calendarwatches the day indication is corrected by turning the hour hand and theminute hand by means of the crown. These conventional devices areinconvenient in that the mechanism becomes complicated as an additionalbutton for date and day correction is necessary and correction is timeconsuming. The known calendar watches do not incorporate both date andday correcting device in one single arrangements.

Brief description of the drawings For a fuller understanding of theinvention, reference is had to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plane view of a first embodiment of the calendar watchaccording to the invention disposed in the calendar correcting position:

FIG. 2 is a plane view of the calendar watch of FIG. 1 disposed in thehand setting position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the calendar watch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plane view of a second embodiment of the calendar watchaccording to the invention disposed in the calendar correcting position;

FIG. 5 is a partial plane view of the calendar watch of FIG. 4 disposedin the hand setting position;

FIG. 6 is a plane view of a third embodiment of a calendar watchaccording to the invention disposed in the date correcting position;

FIG. 7 is a plane view of the calendar watch of FIG. 6 disposed in a daycorrecting position; and

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FIG. 8 is a plane view of the calendar watch of FIG. 6 disposed in thehand setting position.

Description of the preferred embodiments The details of this inventionwill be described hereinafter in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the winding stem is designated by thenumeral 1 while 2 represents a yoke, one end of the setting lever 3engages stem 1 while the other end is formed with shoulder parts 4 and5. Mounted on stem 1 is a clutch wheel 6. The watch was provided withsetting Wheel 7 and lever 8 pivoted on the axis of the setting wheel.One end 9 of lever 8 engages with the setting lever, while idler 10 isrotatably nrounted on the other end of said lever for pivoting thereby.Said idler is shown in FIG. 1 in engagement with the setting wheel.Spring 11 is biased to rotate lever 8 in the clockwise direction. Alsoprovided are date Wheel 12, minute wheel 13, and daily star 14 which isfixed to the day dial on which days are printed (not shown). The dateand day correcting devices include date correcting clutch wheel 15 anddate correcting wheel 16 which rotates only when the date correctingclutch wheel turns in the clockwise direction, and does not rotate whenthe date correcting clutch wheel turns in the counter-clockwisedirection. In the same manner, the day correcting wheel 18 rotates whenthe day correcting clutch wheel 17 turns in the clockwise direction,while it does not rotate with the turning of the day correcting clutchwheel in the counter-clockwise direction. Date correcting clutch wheel15 and day correcting clutch wheel 17 are always in engagement with eachother while the idler 10 engages either of the date correcting clutchwheel 16 or the minute wheel 13 according to the displacement of thelever 8. Date correcting wheel 16 and day correcting wheel 18 engagewith the date wheel 12 and the daily star 14 respectively.

The winding stem is adapted to assume three different positions (notshown) by means of the well known setting lever spring. In the firstposition, where the stem pushed in most deeply, the clutch wheel 6engages with the winding pinion (not shown) in a manner well known inthe prior art to wind the mainspring instead of the setting wheel. Inthe third position, as shown in FIG. 2, where the stem 1 is fully pulledout, one end of the lever 9 is fitted in the shoulder part 4 of thesetting lever 3 and the idler 10 engages with the minute wheel 13. Inthis position, the hands can be set by turning stem 1. In the secondposition, as shown in FIG. 1, where the stem is pulled out only onestep, one end of the lever 9 engages with the shoulder part 5 of thesetting lever, and the idler 10 engages with the date correcting clutchwheel 15. Turning of the stem to the counterclockwise direction nowrotates the date correcting clutch wheel to the clockwise direction andthe date correcting wheel rotates to the clockwise direction to rotatethe date wheel in order to correct the date indication. Under thiscondition the day correcting clutch wheel rotates to thecounter-clockwise direction while the day correcting wheel does notrotate, thus the day dial is free from correction. On the other hand,turning of the stem -to the clockwise direction rotates the datecorrecting clutch wheel to the counterclockwise direction and the daycorrecting clutch Wheel rotates to the clockwise direction, so the daycorrecting wheel as well as the daily star rotate to the clockwisedirection to correct the day indication, while the date correcting wheeldoes not rotate and the date dial is free from correction. In thismanner by turning the Winding stem to the counter-clockwise directionthe date indication is corrected instantaneously and the day indicationis also corrected instantaneously by turning the stem to the clockwisedirection.

In FIG. 4 and 5, the winding stem 19 with the crown has a clutch wheel23 mounted thereon for longitudinal displacement therealong and rotationthereby. Setting lever 20 is mounted rotatively with a setting lever pin21 and engages with the winding stem 19. Yoke spring 22 positions thesetting lever 20. Yoke 24 rotates around a pin 25 and engages with thesetting lever 20 to set the position of the clutch wheel 23 alongwinding stem 19. Correcting lever 27 engages with the setting lever 20and rotates around a pin 28. Idler 29 is rotatively mounted on lever 27for pivoting thereby. Spring 30 biases the yoke 24 and the lever 27.Transmitting wheel 31 has calendar correcting wheel 32 fixed thereto.The watch is provided with setting wheel 26 and date wheel 33. Datejumper 34 is provided for setting the position of the date wheel 33 andis rotatable by means of screw 35. Date jumper spring 36 biases the datejumper 34 toward date wheel 33. Daily star 37 has day wheel 38 fixedthereto. Daily jumper 39 rotates around a screw 40 to set the positionof the daily star 37, and is biased by day jumper spring 41. Minutewheel 42 is arranged on the same plane with the idler 29 and engageswith the hour wheel and the cannon pinion (neither of them are shown).Daily star 37, calendar correcting wheel 32 and date wheel 33 arearranged in the same plane to engage with each other. The relationbetween dimensions a, b, c and d shown in FIG. 4 are selected so that ab and c d.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and operates as follows. By pulling out thewinding stem 19 one step the clutch wheel 23 engages with the settingwheel 26 due to the operation of setting lever 20 and the yoke 24. Inthis position turning of the stem 19 to the counter-clockwise directionrotates the calendar correcting wheel 32 to the clockwise directionthrough the idler 29 and the transmitting wheel 31. Thus the daily star37 which engages with the calendar correcting wheel 32 is driven to thecounter-clockwise direction to correct the day wheel 38 instantaneously.Under this condition the date wheel rotates to the clockwise direction,but its rotation does not exceed one day due to a b relation, thus onlyday correction is obtained. In the same manner turning of the stem 19 tothe clockwise direction the calendar correcting wheel 32 rotates to thecounter-clockwise direction and the date wheel 33 engaged with the saidcalendar correcting wheel 32 rotates to the counter-clockwise direction.Under this condition the daily star 37 rotates to the clockwisedirection but its rotation does not exceed one day because of c drelation. Thus only date is corrected. The hands are set in anotherposition where the stem is pulled out two stages. In this positionsetting lever 20 oscillates the correcting lever 27 to disengage theidler 29 from the transmitting wheel 31 and the said idler engages withthe minute wheel 42, thus hand is set by the minute wheel train (notshown).

The calendar correcting wheel 32 in this embodiment may have a form ofclick with one or several projections. Although in this embodiment thecalendar correcting wheel 32 is engaged directly with the date wheel 33and the daily star 37, it is allowed to provide an intermediate piecesuch as an intermediate wheel for transmitting rotation.

In FIG. 6, 7 and 8, setting lever 43 is engaged with the winding stem bya pin, while clutch wheel 44 is fitted on the end of said winding stem.Yoke 45 engages is a groove provided on the clutch wheel 44 whilesetting wheel 46 is driven rotatively by the clutch wheel. Lever 47 ispivoted on the axis of setting wheel 46, and has idler 48 rotatablymounted thereon for pivoting thereby. In this embodiment, the watchincludes a second setting wheel 49 and a minute Wheel 50. Datecorrecting wheel 51 is constructed in one body with a second idler 53engaged with the idler 48 in the position depicted in FIG. 6. Said datecorrecting wheel and second idler are mounted by means of pin 52, in anelliptic hole formed in date correcting lever 54. Said date correctinglever is rotatable around the fulcrum 55. The date correcting lever 54is given torque in the counter-clockwise direction by a spring 56. Alsoprovided is a day correcting wheel 57, a daily star 58 rotating with theday wheel, and a date wheel 59.

The embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 operates as follows. When disposed in thedate correcting position of FIG. 6, turning the crown in thecounter-clockwise direction rotates clutch wheel 44 which in turnrotates setting wheel 46 in the direction of the arrow. Idler 48,engaged with the setting wheel 46 is also rotated to rotate second idler53 which in turn rotates date correcting wheel 51 in the direction ofthe arrow. In this position force is applied on pin 52 through theengaging point between the idler 48 and the second idler 53 in onetangential direction, to press said pin against one end of the elliptichole of the date correcting lever 54. Thus the date correcting wheel 51is supported in engaged position with the date wheel and rotates thedate wheel in the direction of the arrow, to correct the dateindication.

As shown in FIG. 7, turning of the crown to the clock wise directionrotates the setting wheel 46 to the counterclockwise direction, torotate idler 48 to the clockwise direction, and second idler 53 and datecorrecting wheel 51 to the counter-clockwise direction. Therefore theforce applied on pin 52, on which the second idler 53 and the datecorrecting wheel 51 are mounted, is applied in the opposite direction tothat of the date correcting posiion to press said pin against the otherend of the elliptic hole. Under this condition the date correcting wheeldisengages from the date wheel and the date correcting wheel engageswith the day correcting wheel 57. In this position the daily star 58rotates to correct the day indication. FIG. 8 shows the watch disposedin the hand setting position. The winding stem is pulled out one morestage from date and day correcting position of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. Inthis position the side of the setting lever 43 presses the free end 60of the lever 47 and the lever 47 rotates on the axis of the settingwheel 46. Idler 48 is pivoted on the said lever 47 out of engagementwith the second idler 53 and the idler 48 engages with the secondsetting wheel 49. The hand setting train is established independent ofthe date and day correcting train. In this manner, rotation of thewinding stem to the right or left is transmitted from clutch wheel 44through setting wheel 46, idler 48 and second setting wheel 49 to minutewheel 50 and the hands can be set by the known hand setting device. Inthe position where the winding stem is pushed in most deeply (not shown)the setting lever 43 and the yoke 45 cooperate with each other todisengage second idler 53 from the idler 48 and setting wheel 46 fromthe clutch wheel 44. In this position the date correcting wheel comesinside of a pitch circle of the date wheel and does not interfere withdate changing. That is to say that since the hand setting train and thedate and day correcting train are independent from each other, turningof the winding stem is confined only to driving the clutch wheel 44.Therefore the mainspring is wound by the known motor spring mechanism,through clutch wheel 44, winding pinion (not shown) and crown wheel. Thedate and day correcting device according to this invention is applicableto automatic winding watches as well as manual winding watches. In theembodiment of FIGS. 6-8, the two setting wheels 46 and 49 can bereplaced by a single setting wheel. Further, the date correcting wheel51 can be driven directly by the idler 48, and the numbers of teeth inthe date correcting wheel depicted is given by way of example and notlimitation. Finally, date correcting wheel may not have the elliptichole and 51 need not be mounted on pin 52 displaceable within theelliptic hole formed in date correcting lever 54. As describedhereinbefore the present invention makes it possible to ensure date andday correction easily and instantaneously by turning the winding stem tothe right or left. The device consists of a small number of parts andthere is no need to provide an additional button or complicatedstructure to perform the desired function, and accordingly providessubstantial advantages over the known arrangement from a manufacturingand assembling standpoint. Since certain changes may be made in theabove constructions without departing from the spirit of the scope ofthe invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription were shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim is:

1. In a calendar watch having a longitudinally displacable winding stemdisposable in a plurality of predetermined positions, a date Wheel and adaily star, the improvement which comprises means for operativelyconnecting said winding stem with said date wheel and daily star in oneof said positions for the selective rotation of said date wheel inresponse to the rotation of said winding stern in one direction, and theselective rotation of said daily star in response to the rotation ofsaid winding stem in the other direction.

2. A calendar watch as recited in claim 1, wherein said operativeconnection means includes first and second unidirectional clutch means,each of said unidirectional clutch means including a clutch wheel and acorrecting wheel, said correcting Wheel being rotated in response to therotation of its corresponding clutch wheel in a predetermined direction,one of said clutch wheels being operatively connected to said windingstem when in said predetermined position for rotation thereby, saidclutch wheel being connected to the other of said clutch wheels forrotation thereof, each of said correcting wheels being connected to oneof said date Wheel and daily star for selective rotation thereof.

3. A calendar watch as recited in claim 1 wherein said operativeconnection means includes a correcting wheel operatively connected toboth said date wheel and said daily star for rotative displacementthereof, said correcting wheel being operatively connected to saidwinding stem for rotation in response to the rotation of said windingstem in a direction dependent upon the direction of rotation thereof;date jumper means for preventing the incremental rotation of said datewheel in the reverse direction if the distance travelled in said reversedirection is less than a first predetermined distance; and day jumpermeans for preventing the incremental rotation of said daily star in thereverse direction if the distance travelled in said reverse direction isless than a second predetermined distance, the distance that said datewheel is displaced by each incremental rotation of said correcting wheelbeing less than said first predetermined distance, the distance thatsaid daily wheel is displaced by one incremental rotation of saidcorrecting wheel being less than said second predetermined distance,each of said date Wheel and daily star advancing incrementally whenrotated in their respective forward direction in response to therotation of said correcting wheel.

4. A calendar watch as recited in claim 1, wherein said operativeconnection means includes a shaft; a correcting wheel mounted on saidshaft for rotation and lateral displacement therewith, mounting meansfor said shaft adapted to permit the lateral displacement of said shaftand correcting wheel between a first position wherein said correctingwheel is operatively connected to said date wheel and a second positionwherein said correcting wheel is operatively connected to said dailystar, and means for operatively connecting said shaft and said windingstem in said predetermined position to rotate said shaft and correctingwheel in response to the rota tion of said winding stem and to laterallydisplace said shaft and correcting wheel to one of said first and secondpositions when said winding stem is rotated in said one direction and tothe other of said positions when said winding stem is rotated in theother direction.

5. A calendar watch is recited in claim 4 wherein said mounting meansincludes a pivotable lever formed with a slot therethrough the ends ofsaid slot defining said first and second positions.

6. A calendar watch as recited in claim 1, wherein said operativeconnection means includes a setting wheel operatively connected to saidWinding stem for rotation in response to the rotation thereof, acorrecting lever mounted for pivoting about the axis of said settingwheel and an idler wheel rotatably mounted on said correcting lever andoperatively engaging said setting wheel for rotation thereby, said watchincluding time indicating means, a minute wheel operatively connected tosaid time indicating means for setting thereof, and pivoting meansresponsive to the longitudinal displacement of said winding stern forpivoting said correcting lever at least between a first position whensaid Winding stem is disposed at said predetermined position at whichsaid idler wheel is operatively connected to said date wheel and dailystar for selective rotation thereof, and a second position when saidwinding stem is disposed at another longitudinal position at which saididler wheel is operatively connected to said minute wheel for therotation thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,268 7/1896 Fazel 58582,591,819 4/1952 Huguenin 5858 2,671,307 3/1954 Imhof 58-58 FOREIGNPATENTS 57,935 9/ 1953 France. 1,482,957 6/ 1967 France. l

16,964 6/ 1898 Switzerland. 28 8,312 1/ 3 Switzerland. 425,641 6/1967Switzerland.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examine- G. H. MILLER, 1a., AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 5885 .5

